|
 Donald Franceschini Establishes
Unrestricted Fund
Donald Franceschini’s business career has taken him
to Delaware, Connecticut, and Chicago over a period of 35 years, but
his connections to the Diamond State have always been the strongest.
The Franceschini family returned to Delaware for summer vacations at
their beach home in Rehoboth, and the children married and settled
here. Therefore, when Don retired as Vice Chairman of Sara Lee
Corporation at the end of 1997, he and his wife Ann came “home” to
Delaware.
Sara Lee is a nationally recognized leader in making
gifts to worthwhile organizations and encouraging its employees to give
time as well as money to their community. To honor Mr. Franceschini upon
his retirement, Sara Lee Corporation gave him the opportunity to make
two gifts to causes he wished to support. Don was torn between leaving
the gifts in Chicago or bringing them to Delaware. But after careful
consideration, he decided to build a legacy where he would now be
spending his time.
Thus, 25 years after moving away from Delaware, Don was
challenged with the task of getting to know the community again and
finding special causes he wished to support. Because of the
Franceschinis’ commitment to the medical community, the decision for one
gift was easy – it went to Christiana Care. Don had lent his management
expertise to Rush Presbyterian Hospital and other medical organizations
in Chicago while Ann enjoyed working with children as a hospital
volunteer. She continues in that capacity at Wilmington’s A.I. duPont
Hospital for Children.
Don did extensive research to identify a recipient for
his second gift, meeting with several community leaders and groups
including the Delaware Community Foundation. He heard good things about
the DCF’s approach and its “ability to reach the needy at all kinds of
levels.” He believes the Foundation is an “ideal vehicle” for meeting
community needs and asked Robin Tryloff of the Sara Lee Foundation, to
confirm his beliefs. Her report that the DCF is “well-organized and
meets some very high standards” sealed the deal for Donald Franceschini,
and he decided to set up an unrestricted fund at the Delaware Community
Foundation.
Don chose not to restrict his $25,000 contribution to a
particular area because he is confident that the DCF will make the best
decision for distributing the money. He realizes that many groups are in
need of support and concluded, “This was the best way I could do
something. I believe in supporting the community where I live. The work
done here at the Community Foundation is superb, it makes good use of
the dollars, there’s not a high cost of management.” Ann also was
involved in the decision-making process and agrees that the DCF will
provide a broader base of use for the funds.
The DCF applauds the Franceschinis for their commitment
to our community. The impact of their unrestricted gift to the Delaware
Community Foundation will be felt far into the future by many
generations of Delawareans. |
